Mounted panel assembly

ABSTRACT

A panel has a number of clips which secure it to a base member. The clips, each fitting alongside an opening in the base member, comprises U-shaped elements swivelly attached to the panel. Depending on whether the panel is to be temporarily mounted or permanently mounted, the friction leg or the hook leg can be turned toward the base member for engagement.

United States Patent 70/163, 167-169, 171-173,D1G. 34; 24/221 R; 292/17,19, 24, 56, 76, 80, 91, 322, DIG. 34; 49/465; 217/56, 5 8, 62,5 Rf220/55K, 55 B;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,757,417 8/1956 Chadwick287/189.35 X

Primary Examiner-John T. Goolkasian Assistant Examiner-Joseph C. GilAttorney-Dallett I-loopes ABSTRACT: A panel has a number of clips whichsecure it to a base member. The clips, each fitting alongside an openingin the base member, comprises U-shaped elements swivelly attached to thepanel. Depending on whether the panel is to be temporarily mounted orpermanently mounted, the friction leg or the hook leg can be turnedtoward the base member for engagement,

PATENTEDuuv 2 :sn 3,616,956

INVENTOR BYJgseEh Cgoper ATTORNEY MOUNTED PANEL ASSEMBLY This inventionrelates to a mounted panel assembly. More specifically, this inventionrelates to an assembly comprising a panel which may be removed from itsframing in which it is temporarily held at the time of sale andornamented as by the purchaser and then reinstalled in its mounting inpermanent fashion. The assembly is especially well adapted to lids ofcontainers such as sewing boxes in which the covering ornamentation maybe in the form of needlework, only partially completed at the time ofsale.

The present arrangement has advantages over prior art methods of mountedpanel assemblies in which screws or other removable fasteners were used.One advantage is that the fastening means of the invention does notrequire the use of any tools. It may also be completely hidden, aparticularly advantageous feature when both sides of the assembly areexposed to view.

Other features and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in theart from a reading of the following specification and an examination ofthe drawings in which:

FIG. I is an exploded perspective view taken from the rear of a sewingbasket embodying the invention and showing the panel removed from itsmounting exposing the specially mounted clips;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom side of the panel with theneedlepoint partially removed therefrom and the clips turned fortemporary installation;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the bottom of a panel embodying theinvention and having finished needlepoint secured thereto and the clipsturned ready for permanent attachment;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken through a clipon an embodiment of the invention in which the panel is temporarilyinstalled in its mounting; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the clip turned and thepanel permanently mounted.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, FIG. I shows an embodimentof the invention as installed in the lid of a sewing basket. The sewingbasket is generally designated and comprises a container 12 and a lid14.

The lid comprises a rectangular frame 16 or base member of wood or thelike which is hinged to the container 12 as at 18. Surrounding theoutside of the frame 16 is an upstanding web of rushing.

A panel is generally designated 22. The embodiment shown comprises arectangle of wood 24 or the like on which are mounted clips 26 which areidentical and disposed at a plurality of locations. Each of the clips isgenerally U-shaped (FIG. 4) and comprises a pair of legs 28 and 30connected by a bight 32 apertured at its center. The clips are eachmounted by a rivet 34 or the like passing through the aperture and intothe panel. Thereby the clips are swivelly mounted about the aperture inthe bight 32. Preferably, the clips are of resilient sheet material suchas spring steel.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper end of the leg 28 is formed with frictionmeans. In a preferred version, this assembly comprises a portion of theleg which goes out and then is deflected inward as at 36 to present abearing surface adapted to engage the inside of the frame 16 intemporary frictional engagement. It will be seen that with the clipturned as shown in FIG. 4, the lid 14 may be readily pulled up out ofits mounting in the frame 16 for work on the needlepoint cover 37.

When the needlepoint cover is completed and stitched at its corners asshown at 38 in FIG. 3, the clips 26 are turned 180 so that the leg 30 iscloser to the frame 16. The distal end of the leg 30 is formed with anoutstanding hook 40 so that when the panel 22 is pressed down, the leg30 deflects inward until the book 40 snaps over the bottom surface ofthe frame 16. This provides a permanent installation of the panel 22 inthe frame mounting 16.

It should be noted that preferably the underside of the assembly iscovered with a flexible material 42 to conceal the underside parts whichwould be otherwise visible. Preferably the coverin 42 is of guiltedmaterial to minimize any bum s WhICh woud otherwise be conspicuous inthe area of t e hooks 40.

In use, the sewing basket or other article having the assembly mountedthereon is made available in the marketplace with the needlepoint 37having its design already completed but with the field a background ofthe needlepoint which may be done by the purchaser undone. At themarketplace, the clips 26 are in the condition shown in FIG. 4. Thiskeeps the panel in place during shipping. After purchase, the consumerwill remove the panel 22 by simply lifting it upward and sliding thebearing surface of the legs 26 against the frame 16 as shown in FIG. 2.The needlepoint may then be removed and worked on by the consumer untilit is complete. It is thereupon stitched as at 38 at the comers of thepanel and the clips 26 are turned so that the hook legs 30 are closer tothe frame 16. The panel is then simply aligned over the frame 16 withthe hook legs 30 adjacent the opening in the frame 16 and the panel isthen pressed downward. The hook legs 30 flex inward and the books 40finally snap securely on the underside of the frame 16 to hold the panel22 in final position permanently. Obviously, the panel 22 is larger thanthe opening in the frame 16.

Other forms of the invention are envisioned. For instance, the clips 26may be made of wire or of molded plastic material.

Iclaim:

I. A mounted panel assembly comprising a. a base member having openingmeans therein;

b. a display panel to be supported against the base member, the frontface of the display panel having ornamented material; and

c. a plurality of clips on the back face of the panel, each clip beingof U-shape, one of the legs of said clip having a friction means on theleg and having hook means on the upper end of the other leg, the clipseach being swivelly secured at their bights to the rear face of thedisplay panel and so spaced adjacent the periphery of the opening meansthat depending on the orientation of the clips, the friction means willengage the side of the opening means for temporary attachment, or thehook means will engage over the side of the opening means for permanentattachment, respectively.

2. A panel assembly as described in claim I wherein the base member is aframe and the opening means is the opening in the center of the frame.

3. A panel assembly as described in claim 1 wherein the clip is ofresilient sheet material and the upper end of the hook leg of the clipcomprises an outward and rearwardly bent hook comprising the hook means,and the upper end of the leg having the friction means undulates outwardthen inward as the distal end is approached.

4. A panel assembly as described in claim I wherein the assemblycomprises a container lid with the panel on the face of the lid which isexposed when the lid is closed and the inside of the lid is covered witha fabric.

1. A mounted panel assembly comprising a. a base member having openingmeans therein; b. a display panel to be supported against the basemember, the front face of the display panel having ornamented material;and c. a plurality of clips on the back face of the panel, each clipbeing of U-shape, one of the legs of said clip having a friction meanson the leg and having hook means on the upper end of the other leg, theclips each being swivelly secured at their bights to the rear face ofthe display panel and so spaced adjacent the periphery of the openingmeans that depending on the orientation of the clips, the friction meanswill engage the side of the opening means for temporary attachment, orthe hook means will engage over the side of the opening means forpermanent attachment, respectively.
 2. A panel assembly as described inclaim 1 wherein the base member is a frame and the opening means is theopening in the center of the frame.
 3. A panel assembly as described inclaim 1 wherein the clip is of resilient sheet material and the upperend of the hook leg of the clip comprises an outward and rearwardly benthook comprising the hook means, and the upper end of the leg having thefriction means undulates outward then inward as the distal end isapproached.
 4. A panel assembly as described in claim 1 wherein theassembly comprises a container lid with the panel on the face of the lidwhich is exposed when the lid is closed and the inside of the lid iscovered with a fabric.